Society &

Green Belt Association

NEWSLETTER AUTUMN2011

Available from Parish Council Offices Battlers Green Farm Shop Radlett Post Office Battlers Green Sub Post Office

Annual General Meeting will take place at Vision Hall, Christ Church, Radlett on Wednesday 9th November at 8pm prompt Guest Speaker: JAMES CLAPPISON, MP We look forward to welcoming all members to the Society’s AGM on:-Wed 9th November 2011 at 8pm, Vision Hall, Christ Church, Watling Street, Radlett. Agenda 1. Apologies for absence Contact details for Chairman are: 2. Minutes of 34st AGM on 10/11/2010 3. Treasurer’s report y/e 30/06/2011 Graham Taylor 4. Annual report and discussion 123 Newberries Avenue 5. Election of Officers and Committee Radlett WD7 7EN for 2010/11 [email protected] 6. Appointment of auditor 7. Resolutions 8. Any other business [please notify Chairman in advance] Nominations for Officers and members of the Committee should be made in writing, signed by the proposer and seconder, and bear the consenting signature of the nominee. The Chairman should receive nominations not less than 24 hours before the time fixed for the AGM. After the AGM there will be a presentation by our Guest Speaker, James Clappison, MP for Hertsmere, followed by drinks until 10pm close.

Officers & Committee 2010 President ...... Martin Saunders Chairman ...... Graham Taylor Vice-Chairman ...... Rob Reith Hon. Treasurer ...... Aleks Kotulski Hon. Secretary...... Beverley Porteous Hon. Membership Secretary ...... Catherine Treves Brown Other areas of responsibility: Planning ...... Rob Reith Green Belt ...... David Slater Crime Prevention, Trees, Conservation Areas ...... Rosamund Gray Footpaths...... Geoffrey Smyth Transport & Parking ...... Clive Glover History Archives ...... vacancy Aerodrome Consultative Committee ...... Rob Reith Web Master ...... Robin Crosher Environment ...... Sean Stanley Co-opted ...... Mike Stearns Advisory Members: Local History ...... Philip Eastburn Web Adviser ...... Colin Mansell

Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 2 Chairman Park, Councillors, park visitors, Aldenham Welcome to the 2011 edition of our Sailing Club and the agents for Safari Newsletter – I hope you find it interesting and Investments, owners of the lake and its informative. If you have any comments to margins. make I‟d be pleased to hear them – contact details are on page 2. Don‟t forget that, if you have access to the internet, you may feedback via our web-site, www.radlettsociety.org, leaving your details and comments on the form provided.

As many of you may already know, Herts County Council [HCC] decided on 28th April not to award preferred bidder status to E.ON as developer of an Energy-from-Waste [EfW] Aldenham Country Park incinerator on part of the LaFarge site in For a number of years, HCC were finding it Harper Lane, Radlett. This Green Belt site was increasingly difficult to justify funding and this [and is] totally unsuitable for such a scheme. was clear from the minimum levels of Instead, HCC have preferred the Veolia EfW investment and high parking charges! Add to bid for a HCC-owned site at New Barnfield, this the legal and financial imponderables Hatfield, though many still believe for caused by the lease on the reservoir and its environmental reasons that this location is still potentially costly dam, it‟s not surprising HCC far too close to centres of population. „wanted out‟. One initiative HCC did manage According to HCC‟s Waste Procurement to „squeeze in‟ was to allow a fenced-off site in timetable, Veolia should by now have the Park for a new building and adventure presented its planning application to HCC playground for KIDS, the charity that works [October 2011]. If approved, this proposal with disabled children, young people and their could have far-reaching implications for families. everyone in the County, Also, if HCC consents Veolia‟s scheme, there‟s no route for appeal We have excellent relations with local except via the very narrow grounds of a Councillors, both Parish and Borough, and judicial review. We will need to study this hold annual liaison meetings which are both application carefully. useful and informative. Among the subjects we have raised are The Society is a member of the Advisory the apparently stalemated plans for key sites Board of Aldenham Country Park and it‟s at the southern boundary of Radlett North really good news that HCC have now found a Conservation Area: the former Fire Station and tenant to take on a long-term lease of the Burrells shop & yard. The Borough Park. Plans are already being discussed for Councillors‟ policy of a „substantial‟ public use enhancing the facilities and there should be for the Fire Station site, which we have some imporvements seen in 2012. I‟m pleased supported, may be complicating the situation, that the new tenants have said that they‟re as the site remains unsold. Nor is there a keen to continue to consult the Friends of the buyer for the Burrell‟s site. A further Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 3 imponderable is the petrol filling station site Crosher and Graham Taylor who liaised with which, if assembled with its two northern Bill over an 18 month period to produce the neighbours, would create a substantial new map. Bill and the committee were frontage in Watling Street. assisted with advice from Dawn Growcock The Committee is concerned about the (Countryside Access Officer, Public Rights of lack of progress made by the various land- Way Service, Herts County Council) and owners and their failure to produce a single Petrina Llewellyn (Projects Officer, scheme for consultation. Meanwhile, two of Countryside Management Service). the sites are becoming derelict and do not The map went on sale at the Radlett present a favourable impression of Radlett to Festival in June. Copies cost £6 and are on visitors. sale at outlets shown on the cover. You may Graham Taylor also contact the Society via our web site, www.radlettsociety.org. Footpaths The map shows places of interest and local landmarks which we hope will increase This has been a busy year. In your enjoyment of the countryside. Except for addition to the usual program of coordinating two locations which are indicated, the map the inspection of the local footpath network, shows all current rights of way for walkers, we have produced a new footpath map. Our horse - riders and cyclists, as they exist on the previous map was ground. produced in 2000 and, The Society also whilst there was a thanks the loyal band of continuing demand for the walkers which, as in map, we had run out of previous years, has copies. We applied to the patrolled the footpath Ordnance Survey for a network to produce licence to make further data for the annual copies but were told that Footpath Report the regulations had submitted to The changed and we could no Aldenham Parish longer print a map with a Council and the Herts sufficiently large scale. County Council for Taking this problem implementation. In this into account together with connection, the Society the need to ensure that have been much footpath information was assisted by Dawn kept up to date, we River Colne, from A62, near Munden Growcock who has decided to produce a new produced periodic footpath map. We reports summarising maintenance works on engaged a local mapmaker, Bill Willett who the footpath network and other steps being had produced a footpath map for the undertaken by Herts County Council. Berkhamstead Citizens Association. We also formed a committee of Geoffrey Smyth (our Geoffrey Smyth, FOOTPATHS footpaths representative) together with Robin Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 4 Herts Waste Procurement Those who attended last year‟s AGM will remember the rather lively discussion between the audience and our guest speaker Cllr. Derrick Ashley [Herts CC Executive member for Waste] and Assistant Director, Environment, Richard Brown. Cllr. Ashley was promoting HCC‟s controversial plan to consider a bid from E.ON to develop an Energy-from-Waste Incinerator at the LaFarge site in Harper Lane, Radlett. RSGBA members In February 2011, Cllr. Ashley was voiced strong arguments citing issues of interviewed by Radio Verulam. Graham Taylor Green Belt, Environment, Highways and gave a presentation at Aldenham Parish Health. These concerns were all more-or-less Council‟s AGM in March and Radlett Centre dismissed as either irrelevant or inappropriate was full to capacity for public meeting on and the County Council pressed on with its March 24th. planned timetable. It seemed to us that HCC had rushed Not at all content with this into its timetable. It had arranged PFI funding outcome, RSGBA joined [long-term loan], but this was based on a with Councillors and completely different site – New Barnfield in members of the public in Hatfield. But HCC was still undertaking a support of the formation reviews of its waste policies and the of an action committee, WInG, Watling government was still considering its waste Incinerator Group. advice to Local Authorities. Many new faces from all walks of life Critically, in our view, the shortlisted pitched-in to join forces against HCC‟s Waste contractor, E.ON had not produced an proposals. Two RSGBA Committee members, environmental impact statement for the Harper Graham Taylor and Clive Glover joined the Lane site. WInG intensified its lobbying and WInG steering group and within a month a local resident and prominent human rights fully-functioning, active local campaign group lawyer, Lord Pannick, added his name to the was up-and-running. Fund-raising was started campaign. in earnest; a leaflet campaign launched, press On 28th April, County Council finally releases issued and HCC were bombarded decided to award the bid to Veolia, at New with FOI [Freedom-Of-Information] requests. Barnfield. WInG had hoped HCC would re- WInG undertook a line-by-line scrutiny of consider the whole question of whether it is HCCs policies, minutes and correspondence. appropriate to site an incinerator so close to Legal experts in planning were engaged, towns, exposing residents to the potential advice was sought from other campaigners health risks of emissions of 1000s of tons of and formal letters were sent to the County combustion particles in the atmosphere. Council. Support was gratefully received from The Society would like to pay local Borough and Parish Councils: the enormous energy, commitment and Hertsmere, Aldenham and St.Stephens. determination displayed by members of WInG Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 5 under the Chairmanship of Janie Jackson- be opportunities for development. The paper Spilman. CHAIRMAN suggests that development would not be allowed if it would undermine the key Green Belt / Planning principles of „sustainability‟. However, „sustainability‟ is not defined and, as we have National Planning Policy seen, is essentially meaningless. Framework [NPPF] It makes clear that if Councils have not This document is a consultation paper made Local Plans, defining where intended to be finalised as a part of the new development can be permitted, the Localism Bill now going through Parliament. Its Presumption will permit development wherever purpose is to greatly simplify the Planning planning permission is applied for. The System, to alter its purpose and direction quite mechanism whereby pressure will be brought radically and to use it primarily to facilitate to bear on Councils to include development in development of hitherto undeveloped land. It their Local Plans is not clarified. states quite clearly that the Government‟s top A Neighbourhood Planning system will be priority in reforming the planning system is „to introduced under the Localism Bill. This would promote sustainable economic growth and allow the creation of Neighbourhood jobs‟. Development Orders by local communities by The document lays great emphasis on which the community can grant approval for sustainability. The term „sustainable development without developers having to development‟ appears in almost every apply for Planning Consent. sentence and is defined as „What we do today The current requirement that brownfield to meet our needs must not stop future sites have priority for planning approval will be generations being able to meet their own abandoned under the Bill. Green Belt land needs‟. As we have no idea what the future which has been developed in the past can be needs of our descendants are likely to be the used for new development. There will be word sustainable in these contexts has no additional grants to Councils which bring useful meaning and can be safely ignored. It forward land for construction (new houses is presumably used in an attempt to mitigate bonus). There will be a levy on Communities public despair in the realisation that large to provide infrastructure but it is not clear how areas of open space will be lost forever. this will work. Many commentators have recently pointed The Radlett Society and Green Belt to the fact that there is no shortage of land in Association was established to protect and company land banks and in derelict areas, and enhance amenity in Radlett and its that the problem lies almost entirely in a neighbourhood. However, as a Civic Society, it shortage capital and loans. It is, in any case, maintains an interest in the planning nonsensical to suppose that an advanced mechanism, and in the freedom it gives to country can achieve greater prosperity by individuals and companies to create urban increasing its built upon area. sprawl and to destroy landscape in the One of the main features of the paper is absence of acceptable planning control on the „Presumption in favour of development‟. behalf of the community at large. The presumption „is a new policy intended to The proposed Framework seeks to; ensure that the Planning System focuses on 1. Establish a presumption in favour of opportunities‟. The implication is that these will Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 6 development as a default position where subject of a judicial review. Since Slough comprehensive Local Plans are not in place. Borough Council has refused an application 1. Abandon the principle that 60% of new for an alternative scheme, the matter is now houses should be built on brownfield sites. back on the desk of the Honourable Member 2. Reduce the planning protection of local for Brentwood and Ongar, Eric Pickles, open spaces, despite their immense amenity Secretary of State for Communities and Local value to many communities, unless such areas Government. Mr.Pickles himself will be re- have specific designations e.g. Green Belt, determining the outcome. He seeks AONB, SSSI, or National Park. representations on any new matters or change 3. Weaken the safeguards even for in circumstances, and has asked for designated areas. clarification of the position of 4. Enable commercial and other County Council, which owns the vast majority organisations to pressure Councils to accept of the site. CHAIRMAN “Neighbourhood Plans”. 5. Enable development plans to be put Woodlands in Aldenham forward without accompanying proposals for Woodlands & Special Sites Review transport infrastructure. 6. Facilitate pressure on Councils to release At the instigation of Mr. Tony Jennings, extra land for housing. former Committee member, who enquired at a The Government‟s proposal greatly previous AGM: ‘Who is ‘looking after’ local impedes (as it is intended to do) the woodlands and special sites of interest?’, keen constraints upon those who seek to profit by local walkers Corrine & Roger Housechild the sale of land for development and upon kindly volunteered their help with getting a those who wish to build upon land without review started. The recent Government threat regard for the long term benefit of the to sell-off woodlands gave this project extra community. It has been termed, with some urgency and I am pleased to reproduce the justification, a “builder‟s charter” and is clearly initial results below. The Society would be intended to permit developers to outflank and interested to learn of any additional particular ignore the expressed wishes of those arboreal or historical information that members desperate to preserve and maintain the may wish to add. amenities without which their communities are The Housechild‟s report says: This progressively blighted. Woodland list is mainly a description of the The Radlett Society objects most strongly names and locations. Except where stated, all to the proposed Framework and adds its voice woods are on private land. Unless a footpath to that of many other organisations which have passes through or alongside the woods, urged that this consultation paper be comments on the woods relate to their withdrawn and radically redrafted. external appearance from a distance. David Slater, The state of all woods is, or appears to be, GREEN BELT REPRESENTATIVE satisfactory. Ordnance Survey 6-digit grid references are The Society continues to support STRiFE in its from Explorer maps 173 & 182. See map campaign against the Strategic Rail Freight illustration on P9. Terminal which, as you know, has been the

Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 7 1. „The Gorse‟ 177997 – between close on Northern side; FP 22 is on South side Road and Wood Hall Farm; FP 55 passes on other side of river. through wood which is on private land with 13. : all area covered by TPO 262 of numerous warning signs. 1991. 2. „Monks Wood‟ 173009 – not named on OS 14. Jennings Wood 153994 – not named on map but trees to east of FP 58 from The OS map but is wood adjacent to North side of Avenue to Margaret Cottages by golf course. Road. 3. Wood alongside FP 58 169006 -172009– 15. Binghams & Otterspool 130990 – woods wood through which FP 58 runs and which alongside bridle path FP 22 (part of Ver Colne butts up against Monks Wood. Valley Walk). Owned by Herts CC. 4. „Kendal Wood‟ 172985 – between Watling 16. „Berrygrove Wood‟ 134983 – FPs 15 & 76 St and Tykeswater and adjacent to or part of runs through wood. Owned by Herts CC. school grounds. FP 18 and FP 70 adjacent to 17. Roundbush 147984 NW and NE sides, FP 41 to the South. No wood shown on OS map but is presumably 5. „Wellhouse Dell‟ 169987 – subject to Tree the trees around the electricity pylon. Preservation Order 30 of 1970. 18. „Cobdenhill Dell‟ 167987 – wood around Land is in the care of APC who have plans to quarry adjacent to Watling Street (South side). transform Salter’s Field nearby, fill in the Dell FP 46 passes through edge. to make way for sports pitches and improve Owned by APC and recently fenced between vehicle access from Watling Street. FP and steep bank into quarry for safety 6. Along Tykeswater Lane 175982 – BOAT reasons 79 (byway open to all traffic). 19. „Moses Dell‟ 163984 –close to FPs 17 & 7. „Dellfield Wood‟ 152998 – not named on 71 from Battlers Green to Watling Street. OS map; bridle way FP5 passes close to 20. „Lt Kendals Wood‟ 166980 – South of Little Eastern end. Kendals Farm between FP 31 and FP 40. 8. Small dell 153997 – very small wood just 21. Aldenham Park 170965 – wood alongside South of Dellfield Wood; no adjacent footpath. Butterfly Lane and backing on to 9. „Beechy Dell‟ 142003 – not named on OS Haberdashers‟ School; FP 51 passes through map but is a wood by track (open to public) one part. running NW from sewage works to Ver Colne Fairly large private wood; from Butterfly Lane Valley Walk. and FP 51 looks OK, but most is not visible or 10. Small wood 143006 – long thin wood NW accessible. of sewage works and close to Beechy Dell; no 22. Small wood 159977– unnamed behind footpath nearby. Aldenham School with FP 32 running adjacent 11. „Beatrix and Lucinda Woods‟ 153003 – to one short side. recently planted woods at end of Oakridge 23. (with its lakes) Avenue with permissive paths through them 150976 – private land but open at times of and FP 5 bordering Western edge. 2006 OS some events/festivals. map shows these as fields and not shown as 24. Aldenham Grange 147978 – by road woods. between Round Bush & . 12. Watermeadows Woods 134996-138000 – woods on either side of R Colne. FP 4 passes

Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 8 Special sites 3. Trig Point 149006 – marked on OS Map 'The locations in the following list are in the as 101 near Hill Farm. main on private land (except for 3. Trig Point, 4. Site of Roman Villa (by BW 20) 142012 – 6. Granary and 10. Moat and Pond) and are FP 23. not visible to the general public. RSGBA will 5. Site of Roman Buildings 136003 – consider how to verify the continued existence Munden Estate, not shown on OS, believed to and state of preservation of these sites. be inside Munden House. 1. Ice House Porters Park Golf Course 6. Granary (Conservation Order separate 174001 – not shown on OS map. from Wall Hall order) 138992 –wooden 2. Ice House Wall Hall 140993 – has a building on pad stones by FP 12. Conservation Order; not shown on OS map 7. Folly (Conservation Order separate from but presume close to farm buildings. Wall Hall order) 138993 – close to previous building.

To find a 6-figure grid reference, first 3 digits = east, last 3 digits = north example shows location 7, 138993

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8. Italian Garden (Conservation Order Grass Verges separate from Wall Hall order) 138994 – close to previous building. In a recent conversation with SW Herts 9. Spanish Well Head (Conservation Order Highways District Manager, Hamid Kassrai, I separate from Wall Hall order) 137994 – close learnt that due to the financial situation the to previous building. post of Verges Officer has been „lost‟. 10. Moat and pond 152976 – Letchmore For Radlett with its many attractive verges, Heath pond with two smaller ponds behind it this is very regrettable and the Society has and alongside FP 14. complained to our County Councillor, Caroline 11. Ornamental bridge () Clapper. I know that she has a good working 173963 – presumably on Tykeswater Lane. relationship with Mr.Kassrai and will do all she 12. Roman pottery kilns 162987 – not shown can to restore the post of Verges Officer. on OS map but presumably N of Moses Dell. Meantime, if you know of any verges being 13. Dew Pond 156969 - not shown on OS damaged, particularly by contractors, please map but presumably close to FP 14. call Herts Highways on 0300 1234047 or use 14. Edge Grove Fish Pond 143989 – close to the on-line highways fault reporting system: FP 10 from Aldenham Village to Blackbirds www.hertsdirect.org/actweb/hfr/default.cfm. Farm. CHAIRMAN

RSGBA Financial Summary 2010-2011

INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT year to 30th June 2011 2010 2011

INCOME £ £ Subscriptions / Donations 3,337 4,987 Investment Income 2,128 2,101 Income Tax Refund 369 - 5,835 7,088

EXPENDITURE

Admin, Postage & Internet 132 20 Newsletter - Printing and Distribution 479 408 Room Hire & AGM Expenses 243 227 Subscriptions to Other Societies 5,468 1,252 Insurance 280 245 Footpaths 110 38 Festival 180 60 Honorarium - 20 Totals: 6,892 2,270 NET SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR 2009-10 (1,057) 4,818 Alex Kotulski – HONORARY TREASURER

Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 10 MEMBERSHIP, SUBSCRIPTIONS & GIFT AID 2011 - notes Please note: as the Society‟s year runs from 1st July to 30th June, subscriptions for the current year became due on 1st July 2011

In the interests of efficiency and GIFT AID simplicity, we ask you to consider Please sign and date in the making regular annual payments relevant section overleaf to enable the by Standing Order. To encourage a Society to claim back the tax on your wide membership from the whole subscriptions/donations. community, we will accept a minimum Notes on Gift Aid: standing order of £1.00 annually. a) Under the Gift Aid scheme, If you prefer to make a direct Charities can recover the basic rate payment, we ask for a minimum of tax paid by members. Until 2011, a £5.00 [cheques payable to The subscription or donation of £10 to will Radlett Society]. allow us to claim and extra £2.80 from Whether you pay by standing HMRC. order, on-line or cheque, the Society b) If, in the future, your circumstances can benefit from HM Revenue & change and you cease to be a UK Customs’ Gift Aid scheme. Please basic-rate taxpayer, you must notify sign and date the relevant declaration. us and cancel your declaration. See the notes opposite about Gift Aid. c) If you pay tax at the higher rate EXISTING COVENANTS & you can also claim further tax relief on STANDING ORDERS your Self-Assessment tax return. If you already pay under an d) If you are due an Income Tax existing deed of covenant, do Repayment, you can nominate your nothing. (Gift Aid has replaced Society for the Self Assessment covenants but existing covenants can Charity Donation using our unique continue). code of SAM58SG If you already pay by standing e) For Inheritance Tax purposes, order you do not have to do anything. legacies can be left to the Society net However, if you are willing to let the of the 40% tax charge. Society reclaim the tax on your Please notify the Hon. Membership subscriptions/donations, please see Secretary if you change your name, the notes opposite and fill in the address or wish to resign your appropriate section of the form membership. Address on P12. overleaf. Thank you for your support!

Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 11 MEMBERSHIP, SUBSCRIPTIONS & GIFT AID 2011 – Application Form

Please complete the necessary NEW STANDING order MANDATE details and send the whole page to YOUR BANK: ...... the Hon. Membership Secretary. BRANCH: ...... PAYING SUBSCRIPTIONS:- ADDRESS of BANK: ...... 1. OUR PREFERENCE:- ...... BANKER’S STANDING ORDER: ...... Please complete the Mandate and Gift Aid box: NAME OF ACCOUNT TO BE DEBITED ...... I am a UK taxpayer and wish the ...... …..|……|….. Society [Registered Charity 280877] ACCOUNT NUMBER SORT CODE to treat all my subscriptions/ Please pay to the NatWest Bank plc, th donations paid since 6 April 2000 Radlett Branch, Sort Code 60-17-14, for and all future payments as Gift Aid. the credit of THE RADLETT SOCIETY PLEASE SIGN ...... AND GREEN BELT ASSOCIATION, A/C No. 42035732, DATE: ...... on the ...... day of ……………….(month), 20…..….(year), 2. ON-LINE: Use our Bank details the sum of £……………… shown; please complete and send us ( ...... ) this page for Membership and Gift (Amount in words) aid records and continue to make a similar 3. DIRECT PAYMENT [CHEQUE]: payment on the same day EACH YEAR until further written notice and charge Note our minimum of £5, payable such payments to the debit of my to ‘Radlett Society and Green Belt account. Association’. SIGNED ...... NEW MEMBERS – HOW TO JOIN Please print your name, address DATE: ...... and telephone number, and complete other details as Hon. Membership Secretary RSGBA appropriate. c/o 30 Gills Hill RADLETT Date of Application …...…………… Hertfordshire WD7 8BZ Name: ...... ……… Address ...... Printed by Caprin Printers, Unit 2, ...... Park Industrial Estate, Frogmore, Telephone: ...... St.Albans, Hertfordshire. AL2 2DR Home email: ...... Tel: 01727 872021 www.caprin.co.uk

Radlett Society & Green Belt Association Newsletter 2011 12